SuperDogs In The News
Local comic goes to the dogs
By BILL BROWNSTEIN, The GazetteNovember 27, 2009
Phil Shuchat's career has gone to the dogs. Literally. Shuchat, one of this city's sharpest wits, is now running a dog show. (What? No pony available yet.)
But this is not any dog show. It's among the biggest of the bunch: the SuperDogs spectacle has been around for 35 years and has played to 40 million paw-loving human-oids around the planet.
The canines hit the Bell Centre Sunday at 2 p.m., and Shuchat will be among the two-legged hosts in the ring.
"I wanted to stay in the entertainment business, but I also wanted to apply my business knowledge to it," says Shuchat, the SuperDogs Internationale president for the last year.
Nor is this new gig a total departure from the chuckles trade.
"These dogs are actually pretty hysterical. In honesty, they are funnier than some of the comics I've encountered over the years."
There are 50 dogs in the show, but they are not of the highly temperamental, pedigreed variety. Close to one-third are actually rescue dogs.
And all live at the homes of their owners.
"It's not at all like a circus, where the dogs travel around the country in a semi-trailer," Shuchat notes. "They are, first and foremost, our family pets."
They partake in freestyle dancing, Frisbee competitions, relay and barrel races. As for the dogs ... they do the same.
"It's a combination of agility and theatrical ability set to lights and music, not totally unlike the comedy world," Shuchat cracks. "The difference is that it appeals to all. Most everyone has had a dog, loves a dog or wants a dog."
Shuchat has a hound, too, a long-haired daschund called Ginger, whom he hopes will join the show
after learning the ropes.
"Ginger is a rescue dog. I rescued her from an animal-testing facility. Actually, she keeps on wanting to go back, because she's dying for a cigarette."
Ah, old comedy habits die hard. But Shuchat plays straight man to the dogs when he serves as master of ceremonies along with SuperDogs co-owner Leonard Chase. "The dogs are the stand-ups here," he says.
When time permits, Shuchat still cracks wise on the comedy circuit. In fact, he was asked to open for Howie Mandel last week in Ottawa, but had to turn down the job because of a previous commitment: entertaining Canadian troops at the Petawawa base. Best of all, though, the dogs have provided him new comedy material:
"I got a little dog, because I didn't want to feel inadequate any longer walking a big male dog better endowed than me. Really, is there a point where dogs should have to wear pants?"
SuperDogs comes to the Bell Centre, Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets: $20 to $25. Call 514-790-2525.
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By BILL BROWNSTEIN, The GazetteNovember 27, 2009
Phil Shuchat's career has gone to the dogs. Literally. Shuchat, one of this city's sharpest wits, is now running a dog show. (What? No pony available yet.)
But this is not any dog show. It's among the biggest of the bunch: the SuperDogs spectacle has been around for 35 years and has played to 40 million paw-loving human-oids around the planet.
The canines hit the Bell Centre Sunday at 2 p.m., and Shuchat will be among the two-legged hosts in the ring.
"I wanted to stay in the entertainment business, but I also wanted to apply my business knowledge to it," says Shuchat, the SuperDogs Internationale president for the last year.
Nor is this new gig a total departure from the chuckles trade.
"These dogs are actually pretty hysterical. In honesty, they are funnier than some of the comics I've encountered over the years."
There are 50 dogs in the show, but they are not of the highly temperamental, pedigreed variety. Close to one-third are actually rescue dogs.
And all live at the homes of their owners.
"It's not at all like a circus, where the dogs travel around the country in a semi-trailer," Shuchat notes. "They are, first and foremost, our family pets."
They partake in freestyle dancing, Frisbee competitions, relay and barrel races. As for the dogs ... they do the same.
"It's a combination of agility and theatrical ability set to lights and music, not totally unlike the comedy world," Shuchat cracks. "The difference is that it appeals to all. Most everyone has had a dog, loves a dog or wants a dog."
Shuchat has a hound, too, a long-haired daschund called Ginger, whom he hopes will join the show
after learning the ropes.
"Ginger is a rescue dog. I rescued her from an animal-testing facility. Actually, she keeps on wanting to go back, because she's dying for a cigarette."
Ah, old comedy habits die hard. But Shuchat plays straight man to the dogs when he serves as master of ceremonies along with SuperDogs co-owner Leonard Chase. "The dogs are the stand-ups here," he says.
When time permits, Shuchat still cracks wise on the comedy circuit. In fact, he was asked to open for Howie Mandel last week in Ottawa, but had to turn down the job because of a previous commitment: entertaining Canadian troops at the Petawawa base. Best of all, though, the dogs have provided him new comedy material:
"I got a little dog, because I didn't want to feel inadequate any longer walking a big male dog better endowed than me. Really, is there a point where dogs should have to wear pants?"
SuperDogs comes to the Bell Centre, Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets: $20 to $25. Call 514-790-2525.
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